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Meetings & Upcoming Events

We meet one Sunday a month from 2 PM to 5 PM alternating between our Nassau and Suffolk meeting locations. 

What can you expect when you attend a PFLAG Meeting?

PFLAG is all about Support, Education, and Advocacy.  For people attending their first meeting, it is all about Support. 

You will meet parents or family members of loved ones who have recently "come out" to them as well as others who have been members for many years and have gone through much of what you are just beginning to experience. 

For some parents, this news is very difficult to deal with.  Most of us have never had anyone tell us they have a gay child and many just do not know what to do with this information.  While some people find this news quite distressing; they may be angry or hurt, others are readily accepting, but all have questions.  There is a lot to learn and PFLAG is the place to ask questions in a safe environment.  All that takes place during our meetings is treated as confidential.

PFLAG is where we share our experiences in small groups and support each other as we go through the process of learning, accepting and celebrating our families.  We represent many social, political, and religious backgrounds but are neither a religious nor a political group. 

We meet to engage in discussion in informal, confidential rap groups led by trained facilitators where we support and encourage one another as we seek to keep families in loving relationships after learning that a family member is gay.

Our meetings are not group therapy, seminars, or workshops.  No one is called upon or expected to speak until they are comfortable doing so.  We know that listening is often all a new participant can do and when they are ready to talk, they are given all the time and attention they need.  We do not probe or question ones feelings as we know that all feelings are valid.  People share as much or as little as they are comfortable with, often opening up as time goes on. 

PFLAG is the place to come where you know you will receive a positive reaction when you say “My son is gay” or “My daughter is a lesbian”, or “I am gay”.  For many, PFLAG is the place where those words are first uttered in public and here they are greeted with a smile. 

Newcomers are often greeted with such warmth and support that they are able to articulate for the first time all the disturbing thoughts and fears they have been harboring since their loved ones came out to them.  They benefit from the experience of members who are further along in the process of learning, understanding, and accepting as they learn facts they belie stereotypes and the negativity put forth by the mean-spirited seeking to marginalize our children.  They receive reassurance (that our children are happy and healthy living wonderful lives with their life partners), information, and guidance as to how to deal with others who may be less enlightened.  Newcomers hear the ease with which members say “I have a gay child” and then learn that not too long ago they, too, were newcomers with the same emotions and fears that have been overcome.

We meet to discuss the political and social environment that affects our LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgender) loved ones and learn how we can work to advocate for their equal civil rights.  We enjoy the camaraderie of other families with gay members and of our gay PFLAG members while we socialize, laugh, smile, share family photos, enjoy refreshments, and become educated by guest speakers. 

We have a free lending library from which members are encouraged to borrow books and videos to help in the education process.  Borders, Barnes and Noble as well as your public library are great sources for literature

WE’VE BEEN BUSY

On June 14th PFLAG LI represented by Bob, Joan, Jason, Mike, Sue, Mike and Sue’s grandson, Mike’s father, Scott, Steve, Iris and her friend Paul marched in the 19th annual Gay Pride Parade in Huntington.  It was a perfect day for walking down Main Street to the park where exhibitor booths, entertainment, and refreshment greeted the marchers.  What the bystanders lacked in numbers, they made up in enthusiasm and greeted us with applause and cheers as PFLAG walked by.   

For a few pictures from the parade,  you are invited to view Paul's photo album: Long Island Pride 

On June 17th, in response to an invitation by Matt Bissell, a long-time friend of PFLAG LI, we presented a table of material at the first ever EEO LGBT Employees Group in the Northport Veterans Administration Hospital.  Jon Cooper was a speaker at this event and Ronna, Bob, Mac, and Iris fielded queries and handed out material.  We hope to return next year and participate as this group of LGBT Federal employees grows and becomes even more visible on the Northport campus of the Veterans Administration Hospital.  It was great to spend some time with our old friends Mac and Bob and to congratulate Bob, a WWII veteran, on his 85th birthday.

We were 13 strong in the NYC Heritage of Pride Parade on Sunday, June 28th proudly marching behind our new banner.

The first timers and seasoned veterans who had an amazing experience were: Bob ,Joe , Bob (another Bob), Ann (our marshal) – many thanks, Daniel , Maria , Jenny, Jason ,JoAn ,Sunny, Dick, Judy, and Claire (who marches with us  every year)

 

Thanks to the three who are sharing their reaction with us.

 

1. Well folks I did it.  I marched the whole NYC parade and wowowowowow what an experience!  I have never felt more proud of my baby.  What beautiful people I met.  Many asked me to be their mom.  I said”sure".  It was absolutely wonderful. 

 

2. The parade was a lot of fun.

 

3. We had 13 enthusiastic marchers.  The crowd loved us and we loved them back.  It was a great, hot day......and very encouraging.  There were large crowds not just in the village...but all the way up at the beginning.  I was amazed!!!

This is an experience you just never forget and, it never gets old.  Long-time marchers get the same goose-bumps from the crowd’s reaction to us as first timers. 

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

See below for address and directions for upcoming meetings.

 

The most important part of each meeting is the support group portion of the meeting when we meet in small groups lead by trained facilitators and can ask questions, voice concerns, and share experiences.  Each meeting also provides opportunity for socializing, listening to a speaker, and enjoying refreshments.

 

Our speaker on October 18, 2009 in Nassau will be Dr. Randolph Baron.  Dr. Baron was born and raised in New York City.  He is a graduate of the State University of New York College of Optometry, and has taught and practiced in a variety of settings including private practice.  He has been deeply and personally involved with the HIV pandemic since the disease was first described in 1981, and has been an HIV educator and gay activist for the past decade.  He has given presentations at high schools, community colleges, and vocational schools.  Dr. Baron is also a volunteer at the Pride for Youth Coffee House in Bellmore.  His talk will cover his experiences with coming out, prejudice and stigma, and the paramount importance of family and community support for young people.

Our speaker on November 15, 2009 in Suffolk will be Joseph G. Milizio, the Managing Partner of Vishnick McGovern Milizio, Attorneys At Law.  In this role, he manages the firm’s operations and develops its professional and client relationships. He also serves as a partner in the Business & Real Estate Practice Group, where he focuses in the area of business transactions – including acquisitions, entity and owner representation, commercial leasing and transactional real estate matters. Two years ago, Mr. Milizio spearheaded the launch of Vishnick McGovern Milizio's LGBT Representation Practice Group, which is dedicated to providing legal counsel and representation on key issues in the LGBT community, including domestic partnership agreements, co-owner agreements, adoptions, life and estate planning, health care proxies/living wills and employment law/discrimination.  In fact, in this area Mr. Milizio led the firm in making recent legal history, successfully filing and obtaining what may be the first signed judgment of divorce between two gay men in New York. Today, Mr. Milizio will speak on the topics of: Granting Full Equality to Same-Sex Couples and Families and Adoption by Same-Sex Couples.

Our speaker for future meetings will be announced

We hope you will join us.

 

Calendar of  Meetings

 

Month

Nassau

Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center,

300 Forest Dr., East Hills

Suffolk

Suffolk JCC

74 Hauppauge Rd

Commack NY 11725

631-462-9800

2009

 

July

 

 

 

No scheduled meeting

August

 August 9

 

September

 

September 13 

October

October 18 

 

November

 

November 15

December

 December 13

 

2010

 

January

 

 

 

 

 

January 10

February

February 7 

 

March

 

March 14

April

April 18

 

May

 

May 23

 

In June we do not meet.  We march in both the Long Island Pride Parade in Huntington and the New York City Heritage of Pride Parade.  Amazing and affirming experiences always!

 

Other Related Meetings and/or Events

Board Meeting:  Date to be announced

 

Directions

 

 

 

 

Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians And Gays - Long Island
P.O. Box 369, Deer Park, NY 11729-0369

 

info@pflag.org

 

• Confidential Help Line (516) 938-8913